Safety lock for camper doors

ABSTRACT

A safety lock device adapted to use on the door of a camper body. The device automatically locks and unlocks the camper door upon operation of the vehicle ignition key of the vehicle on which the camper body is mounted. Emergency release switches are provided to insure release of the lock, if necessary, even though the ignition switch may be turned on, and the device is &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fail safe&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; so that occupants of the camper body will not be inadvertently trapped therein.

United States Patent Green 1 Jan. 25, 11972 154] SAFETY LOCK FOR CAMPER DOORS [72] Inventor: Gloyd W. Green, 2895 South State, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 16,763

[52] US. Cl ..70/281, 180/113, 292/144, 292/337, 292/34l.14, 296/23 MC [51] Int. Cl. ..EOSb 47/02, E0513 65/16 [58] Field of Search ..70/255, 257, 281, 263, 264; 292/144, 201; 296/23 MC; 180/112, 113

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,262,651 4/1918 David ......292/144 2,146,968 2/1939 Macagno ..292/144 2,672,943 3/1954 Chatlynne et al. ..292/144 X 2,673,108 3/1954 Roller 292/144 2,828,151 3/1958 Brotman et al. ..292/144 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. AttorneyB. Deon Criddle [57] ABSTRACT A safety lock device adapted to use on the door of a camper body. The device automatically locks and unlocks the camper door upon operation of the vehicle ignition key of the vehicle on which the camper body is mounted. Emergency release switches are provided to insure release of the lock, if necessary, even though the ignition switch may be turned on, and the device is fail safe so that occupants of the camper body will not be inadvertently trapped therein.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR.

GLOYD W. GREEN ATTORNEY PATENTEU JANZS i972 SHEET 2 BF 2 FBG mm mn E W6 W 0% Y e Z B ATTORNEY SAFETY LOCK ron CAMPER DOORS BRIEF DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a safety lock for camper doors.

PRIOR ART In recent years the use of camper bodies mounted on pickup trucks or other suitable vehicles has greatly increased. With this increased use has come the increased possibility that more and more people, and especially young children, traveling within such camper bodies will fall from an opened door of the camper body while the vehicle is traveling. Several persons are presently killed or severely injured in this way every year.

To prevent such accidents, parents frequently develop means whereby they can bolt the camper door shut from the outside during travel, thereby locking the door against its being carelessly or accidentally opened during such travel. However, on occasion, the parents will fail to lock the outside latch, even when one has been provided and there are always possibilities that the lock cannot be opened should the vehicle and camper body thereon be involved in an accident and that someone could be inadvertently trapped inside the camper body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a lock that is supplemental to the usual associated camper body door lock and includes a solenoid means in a housing that is mounted to the camper body. A rod, which serves as a bolt of the lock, is inserted in the solenoid and is normally biased to a retracted position. When the solenoid is energized, the rod is expelled and it is then held in its fully expelled position until the solenoid has been deenergized. The solenoid is energized by turning the ignition key of the vehicle on and when the rod is expelled, it projects beyond the door edge to prevent opening of the door to the camper. As the rod is expelled it also contacts a switch means to actuate a signal light fixed on the dash board of the vehicle. The signal light stays lighted until such time as the solenoid has been deenergized and the rod has moved out of contact with the switch means.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide in combination with a vehicle, a camper body and a remotely and automatically operated safety lock device for the door of the camper body. Other objects are to provide such a lock device that is normally actuated to lock the camper door when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on but that can be opened from outside the door or from a relatively inaccessible location inside the camper body even though the ignition switch is still on.

Principal features of the invention include a safety lock having a solenoid means with both a pull coil and a hold coil and a normally retracted bolt expelled by both said coils to a door lock position where it is held by the hold coil.

Other features include switch means to release the bolt, even when the vehicle ignition is turned on, from a location outside of the camper body and from an emergency location inside and, if desired, a warning device to indicate to a vehicle operator whether or not the safety lock is in the door lock position.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings which show for purpose of illustration only, presently preferred embodi-. ments of the invention.

THE DRAWING vIn the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the combination of a truck, a camper body positioned on a bed of the truck, and the safety door lock means;

FIG. 2, an enlarged vertical section through the lock ,means disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, an enlarged perspective view of the protective cover but without the switch therein;

FIG. 4, a circuit diagram with the lock means shown schematically;

FIG. 5, a side elevation view of another embodiment of lock means of the invention;

FIG. 6, an end elevation view of the lock means of the embodiment of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7, a horizontal section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

As best shown in FIG. 1 a truck 10 supports thereon a camper body 11 having a camper door 12 at the rear thereof. A safety lock means shown generally at 13 includes a solenoid means 14 fixed to and on the outside of the camper body adjacent to the door and a protective cover 15 is secured by bolts 16 or the like to the camper door. The protective cover is of generally U-shaped configuration and a portion thereof overlaps the edge of the camper wall adjacent to the door and at least part of the solenoid means when the door is closed. The solenoid means has a housing 17, a core rod 18, a spring 19, acting between the housing and a pin 20 through the core rod to normally bias the core rod to a retracted position, a pull coil 21 and a hold coil 22, both said coils surrounding the coil rod. Energization of both coils 21 and 22 provides sufficient force to initially expel core rod 18 in opposition to the biasing effect of spring 19, but once the rod has been expelled to act as a bolt for the lock means the pull coil is deenergized and energization of the hold coil is sufficient to maintain the rod in its expelled position. The rod 18 is provided with a collar 18a fixed thereto to actuate a switch 23 positioned in the path of travel of the collar. Thus, when the rod is completely expelled, the normally spring biased closed switch 23 is opened breaking the circuit shown generally at 24, FIG. 4 and hereinafter described more fully, and causing the pull coil 21 to be deenergized.

As shown in FIG. 2, the protective cover 15 may be provided with an interiorly positioned switch 25, which when actuated will operate a signal light 25a, FIG. 4, on the vehicle dash board or at such other location where it will be readily visible to a vehicle operator. A piston 26 which is normally biased by a light spring 27 toward the solenoid means 14, reciprocates within the protective cover 15 and is moved by the rod and actuates the switch 25. The spring 27 abuts a rear wall 28 of the protective cover and a stop 28' limits travel of the piston 26. Switch 25 is arranged such that movement of the piston after being struck by the rod 18 as it is expelled will close the normally biased open switch to actuate the signal light as previously described. If the camper door is properly closed, and remains closed, the vehicle operator can see the energized light and conversely he is alerted if the camper door is not properly closed of the safety lock is not working properly because of the failure of the light to turn on when the ignition switch is turned on.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the solenoid means of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, includes a cutoff switch 29 which is normally closed and which has an operating button 30 extending through to the outside of the housing of the solenoid means. When the switch 29 is opened it breaks the circuit between the power source P and the solenoid coils 21 and 22, to deenergize both coils and to allow the rod 18 to be retracted by spring 19. Another switch 31 can be placed anywhere on the circuit in series with the switch 29 and such that opening of the switch 31 will break the circuit to the solenoids 21 and 22. When the switch 31 is used it is preferably placed in the inside of the camper body well above the door or at some other suitable location well out of reach of children.

The entire circuit is also controlled by the ignition switch I of the truck. This switch is in series with the switches 29 and 31 and must be closed before the coils 21 and 22 can'be energized.

In operation, the operator of a truck-camper body equipped with the safety lock of. the invention will close the camper door and thereafter turn on the ignition switch of the vehicle. This will energize the circuit 24, through the normally closed switches 29 and 31, to expel the rod'18. The rod 18, will then act through switch 25 and light 250 to signal the vehicle operator that the camper door is locked. It will then remain locked, with the .rod 18 controlled by the hold coil 22 until the ignition switch I is turned off or until one of the emergency switches 29 or 31 is activated to break the circuit, as has been previously described.

Protective cover 15 extends from the door on which it is fixed such that when the door is closed the cover will protect the rod 18 and at least the forward end of the solenoid means from rain, snow, dust, etc., that might otherwise adversely affect operation of the reciprocating rod.

For purposes of appearances it has been found that it is sometimes preferred to place the solenoid means between the inner and outer panels of the camper door and FIG. shows an embodiment of the solenoid means suitable for such use. As illustrated, a lever 32 is inserted through an opening 33 in a frame 34 and is hung by a pin 35 therethrough so that the lever is freely pivotable. Hold coil 35 and pull coil 36 are riveted or otherwise affixed to a backing plate 37 on the frame 34 and their respectively associated rods 35a and 36a are connected through shock absorbing springs 35b and 36b to the lever 32, intermediate its length. A bolt 38, pivotally connected to the lower end of lever 32, extends parallel to the rods 35a and 36a and is adapted to project out from the frame 34. When the coils 35 and 36 are energized the rods 35a and 36a are pulled into the solenoids and the lever 32 is pivoted to move the bolt 38 out through frame 34 and into a door locking position, and, when the solenoids are deenergized, a spring 40 acting between the frame 34 and a pin 41 in the bolt retracts the bolt through frame 34.

Movement of rod 36a into the solenoid 36 will cause the rod to engage switch 42, corresponding to switch 23 of the previous embodiment, thereby cutting off the power to the pull solenoid 36. Hold solenoid 35 then remains energized to prevent return movement of lever 32 and bolt 38.

The shock absorbing springs 35b and 36b absorb the shock that would otherwise be transmitted between the rods 35a and 35b and lever 32, thereby increasing the life of the solenoid unit.

Naturally, a conventional latch recess (not shown) must be provided in the front edge of the door to receive the end of bolt 38 when the bolt is expelled.

The circuit previously described can be used, but the button 30 of switch 29 will preferably be arranged to project through the outer panel of the camper wall in which the solenoid means is inserted, so that it will be readily available for actuation.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, the camper door is closed and the truck ignition is turned on to energize solenoid coils 35 and 36. This moves the bolt 38 into locking position, where it will be held by coil 35 until the ignition is turned off or until one of the emergency switches 29 or 31 is opened, as previously described.

In both embodiments of the inventionhold and pull'coils act together to move a bolt and once the bolt is in locking position the pull coil is deenergized.

While the present disclosure is of presently preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter 1 regard as my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination a vehicle having an ignition switch;

a camper body mounted on said vehicle, said camper body having a door;

a remote controlled camper door safety lock means; and circuit means including the ignition switch of said vehicle whereby said lock means is operated to lock the door when the door is shut and the ignition is turned on and switch means outside of said camper body operable to open said circuit means whereby said lock means is rendered inoperable to lock said door.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the safety lock means includes a bolt adapted to be expelled to a point beyond the edge of the door; and wherein the circuit means includes solenoid means for expelling the bolt and switch means in the camper body, whereby said lock means is rendered inoperable to lock the door.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the solenoid means comprises a housing;

a pull solenoid coil within the housing;

a hold solenoid coil within the housing;

a core rod extending into said coils and arranged to be expelled by energization of said coils and to act as a bolt for the lock means; and

a spring acting to bias said rod to a retracted position.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the solenoid means comprises a frame; v

a pull solenoid coil fixed to the frame and inthe circuit;

a hold solenoid coil fixed to the frame and in the circuit;

a bolt adapted to extend through the frame;

means biasing said bolt into said frame;

a lever having one end pivotally connected to the frame and the other end pivotally connected to the one end of the bolt in the frame; and I rod means for each of said coils, each of said rod means being connected to the lever intermediate its length, whereby actuation of the solenoids acts to retract the rod means and to pivot the lever such that the bolt is extended through the frame to a door lock position.

5. Lock means for use with a vehicle and camper body combination comprising a housing;

a pull solenoid coil within the housing;

a hold solenoid coil within the housing;

circuit means interconnecting said coils with an electrical power source;

a core rod extending into said coils and arranged to be expelled by energization of said coils and to act as a bolt for the lock means; I

a spring for biasing said rod to a withdrawn position;

switch means in said circuit means responsive to the expelled movement of said rod to deenergize only said pull coil; and

a cutoff switch for manually deenergizing said coils, said switch being in said circuit means and having an operator therefor extending through the said housing.

6. A lock for use with a camper body comprising a frame;

a bolt;

a lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to said bolt and, to the frame at the other end;

a holding solenoid coil;

a core rod for said holding solenoid coil;

a pull solenoid coil;

a core rod for said pull solenoid coil;

circuit means interconnecting said coils with an electrical power source;

means for connecting said rods to said lever intermediate its length; and

switch means responsive to travel of the core rod in response to energization of the said solenoid coils to deenergize said pull coil while not affecting energization of said hold coil.

7. In combination a vehicle having an ignition switch;

6 a camper body mounted on the vehicle, said camper body means biasing said bolt to a retracted position when said having a door; coils are deenergized; and a remote controlled camper door safety lock means in 1 d means responsive to the expelled movement of said rod to ing a bolt adapted to be expelled to a point beyond th deenergize said pull coil while not affecting energization d fth d 5 of said hold coil, whereby said hold coil holds the bolt in circuit means including the ignition switch of said vehicle, its expelled Positionv solenoid means comprising a housing, a pull solenoid coil The combination of claim 10, further including signal within the housing and a hold Solenoid coil within the means in the vehicle to be observable by an operator thereof;

and means responsive to locking of the door by the bolt to housing, each of said coils surrounding said bolt, whereby 1O operate said signal means.

said bolt serves as a core rod for said coils and is expelled by energization of said coils; =0: a: :k 

1. In combination a vehicle having an ignition switch; a camper body mounted on said vehicle, said camper body having a door; a remote controlled camper door safety lock means; and circuit means including the ignition switch of said vehicle whereby said lock means is operated to lock the door when the door is shut and the ignition is turned on and switch means outside of said camper body operable to open said circuit means whereby said lock means is rendered inoperable to lock said door.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the safety lock means includes a bolt adapted to be expelled to a point beyond the edge of the door; and wherein the circuit means includes solenoid means for expelling the bolt and switch means in the camper body, whereby said lock means is rendered inoperable to lock the door.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the solenoid means comprises a housing; a pull solenoid coil within the housing; a hold solenoid coil within the housing; a core rod extending into said coils and arranged to be expelled by energization of said coils and to act as a bolt for the lock means; and a spring acting to bias said rod to a retracted position.
 4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the solenoid means comprises a frame; a pull solenoid coil fixed to the frame and in the circuit; a hold solenoid coil fixed to the frame and in the circuit; a bolt adapted to extend through the frame; means biasing said bolt into said frame; a lever having one end pivotally connected to the frame and the other end pivotally connected to the one end of the bolt in the frame; and rod means for each of said coils, each of said rod means being connected to the lever intermediate its length, whereby actuation of the solenoids acts to retract the rod means and to pivot the lever such that the bolt is extended through the frame to a door lock position.
 5. Lock means for use with a vehicle and camper body combination comprising a housing; a pull solenoid coil within the housing; a hold solenoid coil within the housing; circuit means interconnecting said coils with an electrical power source; a core rod extending into said coils and arranged to be expelled by energization of said coils and to act as a bolt for the lock means; a spring for biasing said rod to a withdrawn position; switch means in said circuit means responsive to the expelled movement of said rod to deenergize only said pull coil; and a cutoff switch for manually deenergizing said coils, said switch being in said circuit means and having an operator therefor extending through the said housing.
 6. A lock for use with a camper body comprising a frame; a bolt; a lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to said bolt and, to the frame at the other end; a holding solenoid coil; a core rod for said holding solenoid coil; a pull solenoid coil; a core rod for said pull solenoid coil; circuit means interconnecting said coils with an electrical power source; means for connecting said rods to said lever intermediate its length; and switch means responsive to travel of the core rod in response to energization of the said solenoid coils to deenergize said pull coil while not affecting eneRgization of said hold coil.
 7. In combination a vehicle having an ignition switch; a camper body mounted on the vehicle, said camper body having a door; a remote controlled camper door safety lock means including a bolt adapted to be expelled to a point beyond the edge of the door; circuit means including the ignition switch of said vehicle, solenoid means comprising a housing, a pull solenoid coil within the housing and a hold solenoid coil within the housing, each of said coils surrounding said bolt, whereby said bolt serves as a core rod for said coils and is expelled by energization of said coils; means biasing said bolt to a retracted position when said coils are deenergized; and means responsive to the expelled movement of said rod to deenergize said pull coil while not affecting energization of said hold coil, whereby said hold coil holds the bolt in its expelled position.
 8. The combination of claim 7, further including signal means in the vehicle to be observable by an operator thereof; and means responsive to locking of the door by the bolt to operate said signal means. 